U.S. to begin sea trials for ship that could destroy Syria’s chemical arms

The U.S. plans to begin sea trials by the end of the month of a merchant marine ship with special equipment on board that can destroy much of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, according to a U.S. Defense Department official who briefed reporters.

The ship, the M/V Cape Ray, is now in port in the Norfolk area of Virginia being outfitted with a chemical weapons “neutralization” system developed by the Pentagon. If the trials go well and the Pentagon plan is accepted by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the ship could head to the region in January. The official, along with two others who briefed reporters, declined to be identified because the plan has not been approved by those international organizations.

The neutralization technology is called the Field Deployable Hydrolysis System. It mixes chemical agents with water and other chemicals to…